After years of searching for the right artist to complete my full sleeve, I finally pulled the trigger and chose Jay at Black Talon Tattoo. Jay is a true professional with over a decade of experience, and it shows. I've already sat through two sessions, totaling about 8 hours of work, and I'm looking forward to completing the sleeve soon. Jay is not only incredibly skilled but also humble and down-to-earth, making the whole process comfortable. If you're looking to get some serious work done, I highly recommend Jay--he's the real deal. read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Two sessions in - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Jay is the best tattoo artist ever. And best dude. Highly recommend his services. He's a pro and worth every dollar.

Awesome shop in Arcadia !! Came in to get some Color work . From the time I walked in the crew was super welcoming and quick to see what I wanted to get. Mikey and Soch do great work in black & gray and Anime. Definitely recommend them ,both are super friendly and professional. read more

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The customer service was great and Soch's work was even better! Everyone at the shop were super kind and friendly. Soch was especially laidback and welcoming. My first tat on my shoulder with Tommy from FreshInk did not go as well and knowing I was going to get a rib tat, I was pretty nervous coming into the appt. Soch tried his best to distract me from the pain & worked fast on sensitive areas. My favorite thing about Soch are he works so fast & he is super talented. Please check Soch out if you're into black and white work. Throughout the appointment, he was very attentive to my requests. Despite that he is a black and white tat artist, he agreed to use red at my request and it turned out absolutely gorgeous. read more

I usually don't write reviews for places I get tattoos, just for privacy's sake. BUT, had such a great experience. While Victor is only an apprentice, he definitely has a career ahead of him! Not only is he a great artist but he does great tattoos as well. clean lines! Both my friend and I got our tattoos on the same day. He finished hers in 2 hours and then did outline, color and shading for mine in 6 hrs. Props. It was my largest tattoo and it was awesome that he let me know what might hurt more and whatnot. The shop itself is chill. Other places I've been have been uncomfortable in some sense -- either the tattoo artist is not so nice...or there's blaring music that puts you on edge. I said it would be my last tattoo, but.... :) Standard is $150/hr and there's parking in the back! read more

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I don't normally write reviews, but Jay and Thomas were great! Everyone else in the shop were very welcoming as well. They turned my shoddy tree and mountain idea into something I'm extremely happy with. The place was clean and air conditioned (its was 102 yesterday...yikes). Jay makes you feel at home almost immediately and Thomas helped with the design. Overall, zero complaints. When Jay says he works fast, he means it. We were out of there pretty quickly and the tattoo is perfect. All I can say is love it, love the place, and will definitely come back for my next tattoo. read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Their rendition of my Douglas Fir with Mountains request :) - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

I don't think I can express how amazing this shop is but I'll try. Their overall vibe from the second you walk in is great and welcoming! All the artist here are spectacular and cool and chill and really nice people overall. I've been coming here to get tattooed by Thomas and every time we have a session it's like hanging out with friends that I've known forever. Now the artwork, that speaks for itself, hands down the best tattoos I've got on me were done by Thomas himself. We're going to be working on covering every free spot of skin available, and I know I wouldn't want anyone else doing my tattoos but him. read more

Black Talon Tattoo - My most recent one done by Thomas Eckeard - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

Jay is defiantly worth the wait when it comes to doing your tattoo. He has done 4 portraits for me and I love them all. He recently did one for my husband and again, no disappointments. I get asked ALL THE TIME who does my work and I refer everything to jay read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

Walked into the shop just to inquire about the cost of a tattoo that I was considering. By a stroke of luck, I met artist Phoenix who gave me a price that I was incredibly comfortable with. ($150 an hour is the general price of work here) Despite my tattoo being slightly different from what she usually does, she took on the task. I couldn't have been happier with my first tattoo experience. She was extremely personable and it turned out that we had tons in common. This eased the nerves that come with first tattoos, and provided a distraction which negated most of the pain. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, she nailed the piece. I am 100% satisfied with the tattoo, and 100% satisfied with the service that came along with it. I will definitely be returning in the future for my Jawbreaker tattoo. read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Taken about two hours after receiving the tattoo. It was still a bit raw, with a tiny bit of blood. I could not be happier. - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

Tattoo Artist Mike Wiggins: Black Talon is the only shop I go to for my tattoos now. Mike is such an amazing artist. Personable, very friendly, flexible, attentive and such a great artist. All the tattoo artist in the shop are so talented with more then one specialty. The shops vibe is a mix between a comedy club and a barber shop. You will not leave here without a smile. read more

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Getting my back done with Shawn White great artist good team of arrest here, fun place no big egos read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Work by Shawn White - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Absolutely love this ahop, i have had many tattooos before but I have neever felt more welcomed then I do here. I've been getting my work done Mikey but all of the artist there amazing and masters of their techniques and styles. I highly recommend coming here to get your work done. read more

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Been going here for about 7 years now . I sit down with Jay the owner of the shop, 97% of my work is done bye him . Light handed , works very swift , but quality is always top notch. Highly suggest booking with Jay, worth every penny . He has a wait list for a reason , very talented . read more

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Black Talon Tattoo is a great place to get tattooed! I am just about finished with my first sleeve from Jay and I have only the most positive things to say about Jay, the studio, and the other artists at the studio. I was referred to Black Talon and Jay from a couple friends who previously got inked by Jay, and I can say that all my expectations were exceeded. Jay was super responsive during the consultation process, which made brainstorming a breeze. Obviously, every person has different tolerances for pain but, in my opinion, Jay's reputation for light-handedness is earned. Jay's been tattooing for so long that he's pretty much seen and heard everything at this point, so he's been a great help in assuaging any concerns I might have about my ink in the long run. I came to Jay for Japanese-style black and grey ink but, based on Jay's portfolio of work, he can handle photorealism, illustrative, and lettering work just as well. I'm probably skipping over some of his talent simply because of my unfamiliarity with many tattooing styles. Soch has really great designs as well, from what I have seen thus far. Book an appointment with Jay via email. Come for the amazing work; stay for the cool people. Parking is in the back! read more

Thank you Thomas for being super awesome. I was nervous getting another tattoo but Thomas made me feel super chill and I didn't feel an inch of pain. I'd highly recommend the shop to anyone. Another artist, Drew is also super cool. Thank you Jay for the hook up. Seriously people! Get your work done here!!!! read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Outline of an Elephant by Thomas. - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

Jay is amazing at his art craft, in addition to the top notch customer service. My stuff isn't the traditional stuff that I see he does on his IG, but his versatility, flexibility and willingness to go with other styles makes it so worth the trip. I drove from the SFV to Arcadia just to get the chance to sit with him and definitely worth the drive read more

Black Talon Tattoo - New fun piece from an old childhood favorite! - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

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First of all, the ARTISTS here are very talented...5 stars! I've brought a few people to Drew & they all walked out very satisfied. As a matter of fact, they can't wait to go back. The place is clean and they're always looking for ways to improve it. That's a good sign :) The modern decor a flat screen TV's makes the time fly by..5 stars Drew, Jay, Nobu & Joe are all down to earth. They make you feel like you've known them for a while, so hospitality, a definite 5 stars! Though they take their work very serious, they like to have fun, so come with a sense of humor :) The prices are very reasonable..5 stars Would I go back? It's the only place I'd go. Drew is the only person that I allow to tattoo my designs. We've had people from Florida fly to Cali just to have my designs tattoo'd by Drew. ok Drew, goal is to have my sleeve done before Aug. 27th..let's getr dun!! I recommend those near or far to stop by and check them out! read more

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Came here after a really bad experience at another shop in the area and it was such a great choice! From the beginning they were extremely welcoming and friendly.. tended to us right away and were open to any questions. They gave me a Friday 13th tattoo deal and made sure it was exactly what I wanted. The artist was extremely nice and helpful and took care of me right away. Overall shop experience was excellent.. and customer service was exceptional. Will definitely be coming back in the future! read more

This is such a great shop! Every time I've been here the staff are very friendly. The shop is very clean. I've been tattooed by both Soch and Jay for black and grey work and they're both really great and easy to work with. Definitely recommend coming to them. read more

This is a waaaaaay overdue review, but I came here back in September 2016 and Ruben did a great job on my tattoo. I need to come back to get a touch up soon. :D Side note: the shop is clean and welcoming when you come in. Also, they have a huge collection of DVDs to pick from (I was watching Superbad) and it makes the time go by extra fast. read more

Thomas is just the best of the best He is super creative he is open to all suggestions and he makes sure that you are happy with your design. Thomas makes your design look better that you can even imagine. He is also a beautiful soul and he transmits that energy into his work. Also, the atmosphere of this place is not intimidating as other places all the artists are welcoming read more

This shop is awesome! Everybody there is super helpful and the vibe keeps making you want to come back. Jay has been my artist for years and he has done all my work. Everywhere I go people loves my tattoos and always ask where did I do my work at. Jay is truly the man! His light hand and all his detail towards his art is amazing! Forever blessed to have found this place! read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

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I am visiting from TX and decided to get some West Coast ink, & I couldn't possibly be more satisfied than I am with my experience at Black Talon.. The clinic was extremely clean and the Artists were professional and personable.. Jim was an excellent Artist (very gentle).. As a matter of fact, I have a 12 o'clock appt on Wednesday to get my forearm decorated before heading home.. I give them A TEN!! A TEN I SAY!!! THANKS JIM!!! read more

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Knew I had to get something to honor Kobe, and Jay did this piece for me. All the details he puts into every single tattoo makes it so realistic. My favorite tattoo on my body read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Kobe Bryant tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

Update: just went back three days later to get another piece from Soch this time on the ribs, it was just as great an experience as the first piece I got, great conversation great service and Soch was very kind when I asked for the stencil to be redone a couple times to get the placement just right. Starting out the piece didn't hurt much at all but towards the end my skin started to get a little raw and Soch noticed I was feeling it a little more and checked in on me asked if I wanted numbing and was overall just very caring. Everyone else in the shop was again super nice and funny joking around with each other. When I walked into the shop one of the artists I had seen the other day seemed excited I was back and gave me a nice greeting and was interested in what I was going to get next. These guys really do support each other and it's such a great shop environment. My tattoo came out better than I thought and again I'm absolutely in love with it, all of my tattoos have a deep personal meaning to me and Soch was able to understand that meaning and interpret it into a beautiful piece of art. I will definitely be seeing Soch again when I get back to LA. read more

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I'm writing from my boyfriends phone ! Yesterday I went to black talon tattoo an got a tattoo from Shawn W and it came really nice ! I would recommend anybody needing to be tattooed to ask for Shawn W he's polite an courteous ! There really should be more stars 5 just doesn't give enough credit to his work ! Michelle B read more

Yelp should really make an option where you can give higher rating stars for special circumstances because I'm pretty damn sure a lot of people, and myself included, would be rating Black Talon Tattoo waaaaaaay higher if we could. Seriously. So I was finally able to finish my back piece with the amazing Jay Miyagi @ Black Talon. Have I said how amazing he is? Well, I need to say it again. Because that is how amazing he seriously is. Aaaammzzinnnngggg...!!!! As stated in my previous review, I had looked around for an artist to cover up a botched tattoo I had on my back. I had seen Jay's work and knew he'd be the guy. Well, yesterday, I finally finished up my last session with Jay and my back is so damn beautiful. Seriously-- if I was less of a prude and if it wasn't illegal for indecent exposure, I'd be walking around half- naked just so I could show off my back! Anyhoot, Jay was able to finish my back and in 5 long twitch-filled hours, my back transformed into a new work of art. No joke. In all honesty, Jay is not only just an amazing tattoo artist, but he also has an impeccable creative vision that I feel is really unmatched. Whether it is a new piece you want or need a cover up, he will transform your body into a work of art. Once I can figure out what part of my body I want ink'd next, Jay will be the guy I go to! And in case you're wondering, the entire shop is clean and very friendly! I don't exactly know who is who as I've only been there twice for my back sessions, but every time I go in, the other artists that work there are very friendly and polite. There is something about the vibe of Black Talon that also makes you feel welcome. read more

I had my first tattoo done here last week by Aaron - he did a great job, was super supportive and helped me through the 1st time experience. I'm really happy with how it came out and if I decide to get more work done or if I have a friend who is looking for a shop I would not hesitate to send someone here. Most importantly, the shop is clean, completely legit - it doesn't feel shady at all. The rest of the guys in the shop were cool, checking out each other's work as it was being done and helping and supporting each other when they needed something they couldn't reach or find or a second eye to look at something or whatever. That was good to see. Surprisingly there are a few tattoo shops within this small little section of Baldwin Ave, but I'm happy I stopped in to this one. read more

This is the place of a great artist known as "Andrew Drumm". I was lucky enough to have not one but two great pieces done by him.

I first got inked at the old shop in Pasadena Drew, Jay and Nobu used to work at. I went there on a limb and got a piece done by Nobu. He is definitely a little talented Japanese boy come to my surprise. (Unfortunately, Mr. Nobu has gone back to his homeland and no longer works there) After that I was hooked and I refused to go elsewhere. I am glad that Jay and Drew opened up their own shop in Arcadia which is now called Black Talon. It's about time that they ran their own shop. These guys are amazing. Their shop is extremely clean. You'll see LCD tv in every room and a nice comfortable couch in their little front lounge area. One downfall, if you're a smoker you have to walk several feet away from the rear of their shop. That's the city of Arcadia and their rules for you. I have recommended my friends and acquaintances to them and after one tattoo they wont be going anywhere else, I assure you. These guys are not only very good at their job but are also very professional and super friendly. And oh, if you go in there and want a tattoo that wont look good on you or is just plain stupid they wont hesitate to decline. They will however recommend something else by not making you feel stupid. Although, if I'm in the shop I'll tell you myself that it's a stupid tattoo. haha Anyway, Happy Birthday My dearest Drew!!! I will see you again for my next appointment. read more

I've been getting work done by Khang for a couple years now. I must say he always manages to not only execute his art to my liking, but does so exceeding my expectations each time. Khang will most definitely turn your tattoo dreams into a reality. The dexterity that he demonstrates in his work does nothing short than amaze me during each session. His work speaks for itself and his prices are more than fair for what you get. I highly recommend this artist to anybody that wants quality work done. read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Three angles - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Quite possibly the greatest tattoo Shop ever! Doesn't matter who you get tatted from : Jay , Drew , Lalo , Nobu . All very talented read more

Fantastic! Called ahead for a last minute walk in. My friend and I wanted to grab a couple small pieces on our wrists. Talked to Soch, he got us in knocked it out and it came out exactly how I imagined it. Highly recommended. Cool shop, good vibe, friendly artist. read more

Super cool shop. Been getting work done with Jay since forever and I just love his work! Vibe is super chill.. I know Khang and met Drew they're down to earth guys. What more can I say? Clean shop, decent prices, just tell em what you want and let their creative minds go to work. read more

KHANG is definitely who I'll be going to for all of my tattoos. I got a large back piece as my first tattoo and originally contacted Khang with a rough idea of what I wanted. It's almost as if he took a look inside my head and translated all of my desires down in ink. My tattoo came out perfectly, from size to placement to the look of the tattoo itself. I could not be happier! This is hands-down the cleanest work I've ever seen. Five stars for a super chill shop, and the best artist I could ever recommend. read more

Jay, Is a great person and the best tattoo artists I have every meet. I drove from Phoenix to have him lay down my ink. He hit a grand slam. Everyone at the shop treated my wife and I as life long friends. There is no other place to get work done!! read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California

This review is specifically about Thomas Eckeard and I cannot comment about any other artists from this store. My friend asked for a tiger tattoo on his hand and he liked Thomas' style so he decided to make an appointment with him. Given the fact that he needed to wait for 2 weeks, my friend asked me to keep in contact with Thomas because he had some ideas about the tattoo but his English was not good enough. After Thomas accepted the deposit, he welcomed us to communicate with him about any question or idea, and that was what I did during the wait. I sent him the first e-mail on the second night after we met, which included reference images and I asked him to let me know if he had any idea (since I knew tattoos really depend on the artists and sometimes they have their own thoughts). He responded yes the next morning and told me he would start working on it when he had a chance. The second e-mail I sent to him was a week before the appointment, in which I asked him if he could show us the drafts he came up with. He did not respond. But I decided to wait because I believed he probably had a busy schedule. Finally, I decided to call him 25 hours before the appointment and he said he would send the draft via message. 7 hours later, I got the draft and I sent it to my friend. My friend wanted the bigger cheeks on the tiger, and he also wanted the tiger to have pupils. I texted Thomas the feedbacks along with the reference image I had previously sent. He responded by telling me that would not be really possible for him to do, because he was not comfortable with the feedbacks, and he suggested that my friend could take the deposit back if that could not work out. At the end, we decided to take back the deposit on the same day when it would be the appointment. Despite any artwork by Thomas, I am very disappointed in his lack of responsibility as well as his unorganized work system. 1)My friend asked a day off to fit in his schedule, which kept him waiting for 2 weeks. People like and trust one artist's work enough to make a deal with him/her, but of course they would like the artists to help them express their ideas, too. I respect that artists keep their essence in their work but it is a business when it is involved with money, and not to mention the fact that you have already accepted clients' deposit and asked them to wait for a period of time. 2)Waitlist is not the main problem that upset me, moreover, it is the broken promise that did. If one artist gives a promise on welcoming clients' ideas or concepts, then he/she should stick to it. (Honestly, any vocation requires a strong commitment) 3)If one artist could not follow anything from above, then he/she at least needs to make it clear in the first place or have an effective system to respond immediatly so that no one will waste time and energy on a unworkable deal. In summary, if one person cannot work or does not want to work with another person, then they should say it clearly as soon as possible, and therefore it would save everyone's time and this Yelp review. Again, this review is regarding one artist, Thomas Eckeard, and does not apply to any other artists from this store (since we did not interact with them). Anyway, Thomas is still a man of manners. read more

Drew is my artist - THE BEST TATTOO ARTIST EVER!! I am a breast cancer survivor and after reviewing his work and style, I knew he was the artist I needed. After a couple meetings of telling him my "story", journey and my "vision" of the tattoo, Drew and I sat down, and with his amazing talent and my vision, my one of a kind design was created. It is always great when your artist is as excited about the art as you are. My tattoo is a work in progress, and after every session, I am even more impressed with how Drew has captured and reflected my symbolic journey. I can't wait until it is done. It is a piece of art I will forever be proud of, as well as my Artist. All the artists at Black Talon Tattoo are professional, friendly, and their love and pride of what they do, definitely shows through their work. They all represent the new generation of very talented tattoo artists. read more

I got my tattoo here on my forearm and it was really nice like so good that it was touched back up from before but now it's better than it was before. I suggest you ask for my friend Victor Lee, he's cool laid back type of person that's very professional. He's the type of guy to hook it up. read more

I saw Jay's work online and I was lucky enough to get an appointment with him. He did my first tattoo of daisies on my hip. I knew I wanted daisies but wasn't sure how they should look. Jay free handed most of the tattoo. He was gentle and told me when it would hurt. The tattoo took about four hours and it was worth it. I LOVE my tattoo and I plan to go back and get another. It's colorful and means so much to me. I recommend black talon to anyone is about attention to detail. Can't wait to go back! read more

Black Talon Tattoo - Daisies on my hip. Healed up perfectly! - Tattoo Near Me - Arcadia, California